1.
number of words spoken, talkativeness
How much someone talks. Often used to describe someone as either talkative or quiet.
口数が少ない人だ。
He's a person of few words.
最近、口数が減ったね。
You've been quieter lately.
彼女は怒ると口数が多くなるタイプだ。
She's the type who talks more when she's angry.
口数 literally means "number of mouths/words" and describes how much someone talks. It is almost always used with quantity modifiers.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 口数が多い: talkative
- 口数が少ない: of few words, quiet, reticent
- 口数が減る: to become quieter
- 口数が増える: to become more talkative
USAGE:
Often used to describe changes in someone's speaking patterns, especially as a sign of emotional state. A person who suddenly becomes 口数が少ない may be worried, upset, or unwell.
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 無口: taciturn, quiet by nature (personality trait)
- おしゃべり: chatty, talkative (casual, often slightly negative)
- 寡黙: reticent, silent (literary, positive nuance of quiet dignity)